Electric switch



2 sheets- -sheet 1 (No Model.)

G. CUTTER & G. Gr. ARMSTRONG.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. No. 445,310, Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

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G. CUTTER & O. G. ARMSTRONG.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Patented Jan. 27,1891.

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STATES GEORGE CUT'IER AND CHARLES GOOLD ELECTRIC ARMSTRONG, OF llIC-AGO, ILLINOIS.

SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,310, dated January 27, 1891.

' Application filed July 31, 1890- Serial No. 360,482. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE CUTTER and CHARLES GooLD ARMSTRONG, both of Chicage, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switches for Electric-Light Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of our invention is to furnish a simple and economically-construeted switch, which can be placed in any of the ordinary electrical push-button shells or cases, and is operated in the same way.

Our invention is more particularly adapted for a circuit of from four to six incandescent lamps. It can be used, however, for a larger system by changing its proportions to adapt it thereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the shell and push -button removed. Fig. is a side elevation showing the shell in section. Fig. 4 is a transverse central section thereof, and Fig. 5 is a cross-section taken on dotted lines 5 5, Fig. Fig. 6 is a plan view of a modified form of our invention with the shell and push-loutton removed. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same, taken on dotted line 7 '7, Fig. 6; and Fig. 8 is a cross section taken therethrough at right angles to the line of sect-ion shown in Fig. 7.

In the drawings, A represents a base-plate or washer-shaped ring, which is provided with an annular flange A, projecting from its outer face, which hasitsoutercircumference screwthreaded. The central area of plate A, inclosed by flange A, is occupied by a circular plate B, of insulating material, which is of sufficient thickness and diameter to close the central opening of the said plate A.

C represei'lts a circular shell or case of an inverted-cup shape. It has an openingin its center, out through which the push-button 1) projects, and the inner circumference of its edges are provided with a female screw-th read, so as to eorrespon d with and screw onto the threaded flange A of the base-plate.

Projecting outward from the center of plate l3 and in alignment with the center of the push-button is a post a, the inner portion of which is cylindrical and the outer portion of which is stepped so as to be square in crosssection. Journaled on the cylindrical part of post a next plate 15 is a square or oblong shunt-block b, the opposite parallel side edges 1) b of which are covered with suitable insulating material. Bearing against opposite side edges of this shunt-block are the free ends of the U-shaped spring-brushes c c, the opposite ends of which are secured to the plate B within its circumference, and are con nected, respectively, to the positive and negative poles of the circuit. It will be apparent that when said shunt-block is rotated on its axis it only has to move a quarter of a circle, so as to bring either the insulated sides in contact with the springbrushes, so as to open the circuit, orbring the metal sidesthereof in contact with said brushes, so as to close the said circuit.

In order to rotate the shunt-block and move it the required distance every time the pushbutton is pressed upon, we provide the outer surface of the shunt-block with a concentric boss or crown g, and we notch or serrate the outer end edges of this boss so as to make four corresponding teeth (I, one side of each of which is cutat right angles to the plane of the outer face of the shunt-block, and the other side of each of which is inclined from its apex to the base of the next following'tooth. Placed upon the outer square of posts a, so as to be free to move longitudinally. but incapable of revolving, is the counterpart boss E. The inner edges of this boss E are provided with four teeth f, similar in every respect to the teeth (1 of boss (I, but with their inclined sides located on the side thereof opposed to the inclined sides of teeth (I, with which they engage. When the boss E is pushed inward, so that its teeth engage with theteeth of boss g of the shunt-block, the shunt-blocks being free to revolve and having no longitudinal play, moves a quarter of a circle, or a distance sufficient to change the contact with the brushes from a metallic to a non-conductive one. The outer end of counterpart boss E fits into a suitable central recess in the inner end of the n1sh-button, and after the same has been pushed inward, so as to rotate the shunt-block, it is returned to its normal and original position by the action of a small spiral spring e, which surrounds the square portion of the post a between the two bosses, and is seated at its inner end upon the shoulder of the said post, caused by reducing the outer portion thereof, so as to be square in cross-section, and-has its outer end confined in and bearin g against the centrally-depressed end of boss E.

The push-button is made of insulating material, and is provided at its inner end with a circumferential flange, which at the same time prevents the push-button from moving out of the shell and prevents the possibility of an electrical contact being established between the post a and the metallic shell of our invention.

In operation our invention works substantially as follows: The push -bu-tton being pressed inward causes the counterpart boss to move longitudinallyinward upon the square portion of the post, so that its teeth will engage with the teeth of the boss of the shunthlock. The shunt-block not being free to move longitudinally on post a,but being free to revolve, is turned so as to bring either its insulated sides in contact with the brushes,so as to open the circuit, or so as to bring its metal side edges in contact therewith and thus close the same.

We do not wish to be confined" to the use vious they could be curvpd or straight, so as to suit the requirements of the space within the push-button shell, in which they are to he placed; nor do we wish to be confined to the use of a coiled spring e, as it is obvious various other kinds of springs could be used for this purpose.

In Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the drawings we show a modification of our invention, which consists of the same elements as the switch shown in the first five figures of the drawings, except that the counterpart boss and the'spiral spring 6 are dispensed with and the necessity for making the outer portion of post a square in cross-section isavoided. Instead of said boss and spring, we use a pawl E, which, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, consists of a triangular-shaped head, the underinclined surface of which is located over, is opposed to, and is on a parallel plane with the inclined sides of the teeth (Z of the shunt-block. This head is curved laterally, so as to pass around and avoid contact with the post a, and it is secured to the free end of a gooseneck spring G, the outer end of which is bent under and is fastened to the plate B of insulating material. The normal position of the head is such that it is a sufficient distance above the teeth (Z, and the apex thereof avoids the apex of said teeth (1. It comes immediately under or bears upward against the inner end of the push-button. By pressing down on said push-button the inclined surface of said head engages with the inclined surface of the tooth d, located, preferably, diametrically opposite the point where spring G is secured to plate B. As the push-button moves downward, it pushes the pawl toward the shunt-block, so that the inclined under surface of its head engages with the inclined surface of the tooth d of its boss and moves the latter around.

What we claim is 1. The combination, With a plate 13 of insud, and the spring-brushes c c, of the non-revo- 8o luble counterpart boss E, having teeth f and movable longitudinally, and the push-button, as set forth.

2. A plate of insulating material 13, stationary post a, projecting therefrom, a revoluble rectangular shunt-block having two opposite side edges insulated, boss g, integrant with said shunt-block and having teeth d, as described, and the U-shaped spring-brushes c c, in combination with the non-revoluble 9o counterpart boss E, having teethf and movable longitudinally, and the push-button, as set forth.

3. A plate of insulating material l3, stationary post a, projecting therefrom, a revoluble rectangular shunt-block having two sides insulated, boss g, integrant with said shunt-block and having teeth d, as described. and the spring-brushes c c, in combination with the non-revoluble counterpart boss E, Ico

having teeth f and movable longitudinally, spring e for automatically restoring said boss E to its original position, and the push-button, as set forth.

4. A plate of insulating material B, sta- I05 tionary post projecting therefrom, having its inner portion cylindrical and its outer portion square in cross-section, a rectangular shunt-block revoluble on the cylindrical part ofsaid post, having twoside edges thereof :10

insulated, boss 9, integrant and concentric with said shunt-block, having teeth (Z, as de-.. scribed, and the spring-brushes c c, in combination with a non-revoluble counterpart D on the square part of said post, havin'g teeth r15 and the push-button, as set forth.

5. The combination, with a plate B, a stationary post projecting therefrom, a revoluble rectangular shunt-block Z), having two side edges insulated, teeth (Z, and brushes 0 c,

of the toothed push-button D, which when pressed down upon causes said shunt-block to revolve, as set forth.

GEORGE CUTTER. CHARLES GOOLI) ARMSTRONG. Witnesses:

FRANK D. 'lHoMAsoN, R. R. PRYOR. 

